The Cardiothoracic Centre at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in 2022 registered 16,946 patients in the Outpatient Department (OPD) with various heart conditions, resulting in 21 deaths attributed to heart failure. This patient pool comprised 8,965 females and 7,981 males, while the total number of admissions for heart-related conditions during the same period reached 904.

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Professor Mark Tettey, serving as the Acting Director at the National Cardiothoracic Centre within KBTH, conveyed to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol issues were the primary culprits behind the heart problems presented at the center.

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He also noted that untreated bacterial infections causing common colds could contribute to heart complications, as the unchecked progression of such infections could damage the heart valve.Globally, heart disease and cardiac strokes are leading causes of death, accounting for approximately 18.6 million fatalities annually. In Ghana, these conditions rank as the top cause of death. Prof.

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Tettey urged individuals aged 25 and above to regularly monitor their blood pressure as a preventive measure.“Nurture your heart, make sure you are not overweight, engage in exercises that nurtures the heart and adopt healthy eating habit, do not eat too much fat and sugar as it can predispose you to diabetes and cholesterol issues,” he said.

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He emphasized that the heart stands as the body's most vital organ, being the most intricate, potent, and indispensable component.Human activities have inflicted substantial harm on the environment through pollution. Air pollution alone is responsible for 25 percent of cardiovascular-related deaths. Globally, approximately 7 million people succumb to heart diseases linked to air pollution each year.

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The Professor pointed out that in Ghana, the improper disposal of mercury was significantly linked to conditions such as hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, and cardiac arrhythmias.

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“It is time to use our efforts for preserving nature to reduce and restrict the air pollution entering nature and other damaging practices that are ultimately killing us, the healthier the planet earth is, the better the heart of its inhabitants would be,” he said.Prof.

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Tettey advocated for the establishment of a National Heart Institute, which would serve as a comprehensive center equipped with facilities and diagnostic tools for heart disease diagnosis, treatment, post-treatment care, and research.World Heart Day serves as an educational platform for the public to enhance their understanding of the heart and adopt lifestyles conducive to heart health.

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The theme for this year's World Heart Day is "Use Heart, Know Heart."Heart diseases encompass a range of conditions, including heart attacks, heart failure, irregular heart rhythms, valve disorders, high blood pressure, and congenital heart conditions.Symptoms associated with heart disease encompass chest pain, tightness, pressure, and discomfort, along with shortness of breath and pain in areas such as the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen, or

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back.

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